Ron DeSantis’ Pick for Rubio’s Senate Seat Sparks MAGA Concerns Over House Majority

MAGA supporters are expressing concern that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ decision on who will fill Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) vacant Senate seat could further narrow the House Republican majority and jeopardize President-elect Donald Trump’s legislative agenda.

Rubio is currently undergoing confirmation hearings to become Trump’s secretary of state. His departure leaves a Senate seat open, but the implications extend to the House, where Republicans already face a razor-thin majority following Trump’s appointments of Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Michael Waltz (R-FL) to his administration.

According to The Daily Beast, DeSantis has been in discussions with Florida Reps. Cat Cammack and Cory Mills as potential candidates. Both are seen as MAGA-aligned figures, with Cammack regarded as a rising star and Mills as a staunch Trump supporter. However, DeSantis acknowledged the risks of his decision. Speaking at a news conference Monday, he noted, “Are you going to go from 217 to 216? That’s a tough, tough thing.”

Since both Cammack and Mills represent solidly red districts, their House seats would likely remain Republican in a special election, but their absence would exacerbate the GOP’s fragile majority. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is already navigating the challenge of managing a 217-215 margin, where losing even one vote could derail Trump’s legislative priorities.

“Multiple GOP sources raised concerns that plucking either Cammack or Mills from the House could be disastrous for Johnson—and for Trump,” reported The Daily Beast. A senior GOP source highlighted the precarious situation, warning, “In either scenario, House Republicans need unanimous support from all members to pass any measure; otherwise, it will fail.”

Mills, who has expressed interest in running for the Senate in 2026, may face additional challenges as he is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for unspecified allegations. Meanwhile, other potential contenders for the Senate appointment include Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and DeSantis’ chief of staff James Uthmeier.

DeSantis’ eventual pick will not only shape Florida’s representation in the Senate but could also have significant ripple effects on the House and Trump’s ability to advance his agenda. The decision underscores the high stakes of balancing state and federal political dynamics within the GOP as Trump’s administration takes shape.